Ref: 72/2013
Date: 2 July 2013
Time: 11:05 GMT

In an excessive use of lethal force, on Tuesday, 02 July 2013, Israeli forces killed a 19-year old Palestinian civilian in Dura, southwest of Hebron, when Israeli forces, which moved into the village and fired live bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters at a group of young men, who threw stones at them.

According to investigation conducted by PCHR and testimonies given by witnesses, at approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Dura town, southwest of Hebron in the south of the west Bank. A number of Palestinian young men gathered and threw stones from a distance of 2 meters at the Israeli forces. A number of soldiers got out of their vehicles and chased the young men, who fled to an entrance that leads to Karisa neighborhood in the centre of the town, as Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, sound bomb and tear gas canisters. Mo’ataz ‘Abdel Fatah al-Sharawnah (19) was hit by a sound bomb thrown at his chest from a distance of around 18 meters and fell onto the ground. Meanwhile, his brother, Saher, approached Mo’ataz to try to rescue him, but Israeli soldiers fired at him. As a result, he sustained a bullet wound to the shoulder and he then escaped. However, he was arrested several meters away by Israeli special forces. A number of Israeli soldiers gathered around Mo’ataz, who was lying on the ground, and violently stepped on his chest and abdomen. They then left, and a number of young men brought an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society to transfer him to the Society’s station. He was then transferred to Hebron Governmental Hospital where he passed away a few minutes later. According to medical sources at hospital, he died due to sustaining a cut in the chest and bruises causing him extensive bleeding.

It should be mentioned that the dead body was transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Dis to reveal the real reasons of death.

PCHR expresses deep concern for such crimes which reflect the continued use of excessive force by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians in disregard for their lives.

PCHR calls upon the international community to take immediate and effective actions to put an end to such crimes and reiterates its call for the parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention 1949 to fulfill their obligations under Common Article 1; i.e., to respect and to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances, and their obligation under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention. These grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Article 85 of Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions.